Induction operated vehicle game



April 21, 1970' HAMMARB ERG A 3,507,072

INDUCTION OPERATED'VEHICLE GAME Filed June 26, 1967 s sheets-shed 1 A TIOR/VEYS April 21, 1970 I HAMMARBERG v 3,507,072

INDUCTION OPERATED VEHICLE GAME Filed June 26. 1967 I s Sheet-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. La/s- Hammarberg I JZk/ZWWWMW Ap 21, ,9 9 L. HAMMARBERG 3,507,072

. INDUCTION! OPERATED VEHICLE GAME Filed June 26, 1967 I 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 ,4/ i 0 32 3.) 3 L .44 45 .4 $34 I -36 43 33 r (U i a 5 4a 52 m a 5'5 67 ev 3g 6/ 6% 6 5a INVENTOR. Lars Hammarberg BY v I ATTORNEYS United States Patent US. Cl. 46244 4 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A traflic game comprising a number of remotely controlled carriages such as motor car models, which are driven on a plane surface such as a floor or the like. The plane surface is surrounded by an electrically conducting loop, and electronic circuitry is provided for supplying to the loop alternating currents of different frequencies, viz one particular frequency for each carriage and each function which should be performed by said carriage. Each carriage is provided with a driving source of its own and with magnetically sensitive receiving means which are frequency selective in correspondence to the different frequencies supplied to said loop.

DESCRIPTION The present invention relates to a trafiic game comprising a number of remote control model carriages for surface traffic, each of said carriages having its own driving source, and further comprising a control panel or the like for each carriage, each of said control panels being provided with means for the control of the driving and stopping and steering of the carriage to which such panel belongs.

The invention is mainly characterized by the fact that a conductor loop is provided to surround the surface on which said carriages are driven and that said conductor loop, in dependence of the setting of said control means of said control panels, is supplied with alternating currents of different frequencies for each carriage and for each function of such carriage, each of said carriages being provided iwth a number of frequency selective, inductive receiving means, each of said receiving means corresponding to at least one function.

A trafiic game according to this invention is primarily intended for motor car models which are being driven over a floor surface or the ilke. The control panels for the control of the movement of the cars may be mounted inside or outside the room in which the cars are driven. A traffic game according to the invention is very suitable as a toy but it may also be used for trafiic instruction purposes and the like, and also for advertising purposes.

In the following, the invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which FIG. 1 is a diagrammatical plan for a traffic game according to the invention,

FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram for one of the control panels which are comprised in the trafiic game and FIG. 3 is a circuit diagram for the electrical equipment which is provided in each carriage.

In FIG. 1, M1, M2, M3 and M4 designate four control panels which are comprised in the traffic game according to this invention. The traffic game further comprises four carriages, such as motor car models, which are' designated F1, F2, F3 and F4. The car models are intended to be driven on a surface, for example a special table or a floor surface, and this surface is designated 10. The surface is surrounded by a loop 11 which consists of one or several turns of electrically conducting ice wire. The loop 11 is connected to an aperiodic amplifier 12 which is common for all control panels in the traffic game and which has four inputs, viz. one input for each control panel.

In the embodiment illustrated, each control panel comprises two oscillators 13 and 14 (FIG. 2), said oscillators generating alternating currents of different frequencies. From the oscillator 13, the alternating current is supplied to a potentiometer 15, the moving contact 16 of which is actuated by an accelerator pedal 17 which, in a manner known per se, is kept in rest position by means of a spring 18. From the moving contact 16, the output energy is taken out through a conductor 19 to the output terminal 20 of the control panel. The output terminal 20 of the control panel is, in a manner illustrated in FIG. 1, connected to one of the inputs of the amplifier 12. By pressing the accelerator pedal 17 down in different degrees, different corresponding amplitudes of the AC current energy which is generated by the oscillator 13 will be supplied to the loop 11.

The oscillator 14 has its output connected to a potentiometer 21 through a fixed resistor 22. The moving contact 23 of the potentiometer 21 is actuated by turning a steering wheel 24. The moving contact 23 is electrically connected to the output 20 of the control panel through a conductor 24a. By turning the steering wheel 24 to different angles, different amplitudes of the AC energy which is generated by the oscillator 14 will be supplied to the loop 11. Because of the resistor 22, it will never be possible, however, to supply the whole energy generated by the oscillator 14 to the loop 11 by turning the steering wheel 24.

The output of the oscillator 14 is, however, also directly connected to a moving contact 26 which is actuated by a lever 27 which is intended to bring about switching between forward movement and backward movement of the corresponding carriage, and which, for said purpose, may be moved from one distinct position to another distinct position. While the lever 27 is moved from one to the other of said positions, the contact 26 will temporarily engage a fixed contact 28, which is connected to the output 20 of the control panel. When the lever 27 is moved from one position to the other, the whole energy from the oscillator 14 will, therefore, temporarily be supplied to the loop 11.

Each carriage (FIG. 3) comprises two magnetical revice 30 is adapted to receive signals of a frequency which is generated by the oscillator 14 in the corresponding control panel. The receiving device comprises a magnetically sensitive member, for example a ferrite antenna 32 which is surrounded by a coil 33. The coil 33 is, by means of a capacitor 34, tuned to the frequency which the receiver is designed to receive. The receiving device 30 is connected to a transistorized amplifier 35, which amplifies and rectifies the received signal. The output of the amplifier 35 is connected to a coil 36. The coil 36 surrounds one end of a ferro-magnetic core 37 which,

when the coil is passed by sufliciently strong current, is,

attracted into the coil against the action of a spring 38 which normally keeps the ferro-magnetic core in a predetermined position with respect to the coil 36. The ferro-magnetic core 37 is pivoted to a lever 39 which, in

turn, is pivoted to an axis 40 and, at its opposite end, is

pivoted to a rod 41 which in turn is pivoted to an arm 42, said arm 42 being connected to an axis 43 about which a front wheel 44 belonging to the carriage is swingablea to the case in which no signal of the frequency which controls the movement of the steering device is supplied to the loop 11. When the device is used and the steering Wheel 24 (FIG. 2) is in its neutral position, the loop 11 will be passed by a current of such a strength, that the ferro-magnetic core 37 is attracted to a certain extent into the coil 36, so that the front wheels 44 and 46 are swung to a position which corresponds to driving straight on by the carriage. If the steering wheel 24 is turned to the right from the position now described, the amplitude supplied to the loop will increase with the result that the coil 36 exerts a greater attracting force on the ferro-magnetic core 37 so that the wheels 44 and 46 are swung to the right. If the steering wheel is turned to the left from the neutral position, less energy will be supplied to the loop with the result that the front wheels 44 and 46 are swung to the left.

Further, the output of the amplifier 35 is connected to a second coil 47 which surrounds a tube 48 of insulating material, such as plastic. The tube 48 is swingably pivoted about an axis 49. Within said tube 48 there is a strongly magnetized rod 50 of a material with a high coercive force. The ends of the rod 50 are rounded in such a manner that the whole rod substantially has the form of a rotational ellipsoid. The said rod has, as indicated in the figure, a magnetic north pole at one end and a south pole at the other end of the rod. When the coil 47 is supplied with current from the amplifier 35, there is a magnetic field generated which, in the manner indicated, has a south pole at the one end and a north pole at the other end of the coil. If this current is sufficiently strong, the rod 55' will be attracted into the coil and, because of its kinetic energy when the rod has reached its equilibrium position with respect to the axis 49', the rod will continue. to move so that the tube is tilted over to occupy an inclined position in the other direction. By this movement a change over switch is actuated, said change over switch comprising two movable contact arms 51 and 52 and four fixed contacts 53, 54, 55 and 56. The contacts 53-56 are connected to a battery 57 as shown, said battery being provided for the driving of the vehicle. The battery supplies in the. first hand current to a potentiometer 58, the moving contact 59 of which is connected to the contacts 56 and 53 of the change over switch 51 to 56. Because the tube 48 is tilted over from one position to another, the current through a motor 6 will change direction, said motor being provided for the driving of the vehicie. The change of the direction of the current reverses the rotational direction of the motor. The direction of movement of the vehicle will therefore change from forward to backward. Next time such a strong current passes the coil 49, that the rod 50 is attracted into the coil, the. tube 48 will tilt over to its first position, and thereby the direction of movement of the vehicle will be changed from backward to forward. The current coming from the amplifier 35 is normally not sufficiently strong to bring about the operation which has just been described. Only when the lever 27 (FIG. 2) is operated and is moved from one position to the other, so that the contact 26 temporarily engages the contact 28, the current through the loop 11 will be so strong, that the tube 48 tilts over from one position to the other. If, therefore, the lever 27 occupies its position for forward driving and is moved to the opposite position, said tube 48 will he turned over and thereby the direction of the movement of the vehicle will change from forward to backward. When the lever 27 is moved back to it position for forward driving, there will be again a strong current pulse supplied to the loop 11, so that the tube 48 is tilted back to its first position, and the direction of movement of the vehicle will then be changed from backward to forward.

The receiving means 31 of the vehicle comprises a magnetically sensitive device, for example a ferrite antenna 61, which is surrounded by a coil 62. The coil 62 is by means of a capacitor 63 tuned to the frequency which is generated by the oscillator 13 in the corresponding control panel 22. The signal voltage coming from the coil 62 is supplied to a transistorized amplifier 64 which amplifies and rectifies said signal voltage. The output of the amplifier 64 is connected to a coil 65, which surrounds a ferro-magnetic core 66, which by means of a spring 67 is kept in a certain, neutral position, when no current is supplied to the coil 65. The 'ferro-rnagnetic core 66 is pivoted to a lever 68, said lever being pivoted about an axis 69 and being adapted to carry a movable contact 59 of a potentiometer 58. It is evident, that the current which is supplied to the motor 60, is dependent of the position of the movable contact 59, and, because of the connection of the movable contact to the ferro-magnetic core 66, also of the voltage which is supplied to the loop 11 from the oscillator 13 in the corresponding control panel (FIG. 2).

By means of the accelerator pedal 17, the steering wheel 24- and the hand control lever 27, it is possible to control the driving of the vehicle from the control panel (FIG. 2) according to desire. Because the field within the loop 11 is substantially uniform and constant when the amplitude obtained from the amplifier 12 is suitably adjusted, it is possible to drive the vehicle at a constant speed over the whole surface surrounded by the loop 11 when the position of the accelerator pedal 17 is kept constant, and the vehicle will also be driven straight forward, when the steering wheel 24 is kept in its neutral position.

In the device according to FIG. 3, an amplitude sensitive device such as a Zener diode 70 may be connected in series with the coil 47, said amplitude sensitive device being adapted to prevent the current to go through to the solenoid 47, unless the voltage at the output of the amplifier 35 exceeds a certain value. When the lever 27 (FIG. 2) is moved from one position to the other, the coil 36 will, of course, be supplied with a stronger current than what is normal for merely performing the steering function. This means, that the wheels 44 and 46 will be swung to the right to the maximal deflection angle. This circumstance does no harm, however, because, when the direction of movement is changed from forward to backward, the vehicle is still standing, and, therefore, a temporary swinging of the wheels is permitted. The frequencies, which have proved to be suitable for the different signals that are supplied to the loop 11, are lying between 1 and 30 k.p./ s. In the embodiment illustrated, eight channels are required, and, with respect to the frequencies said channels may be distributed as follows: 3 k.p./s., 4 k.p./s., 5.2 k.p./s., 6.7 k.p./s., 8.7 k.p./s., 10.4 k.p./s., 12.5 k.p./s., and 15 k.p./s.

The invention may be modified in several ways within the scope of the appended claims. Thus, the rocking device comprising the tube 48, the ferro-magnetic rod 50 and the coil 47, may be replaced by any other amplitude sensitive rocking device. Such a rocking device may comprise a shuntfield relay or any other switching device, consistin for example of two relays connected together in a manner known per se. The rocking device should, however, always be so designed, that it is brought to one position or one condition by one current pulse and brought to the other position by the next current pulse in the same direction. It is also possible to use an electronically operating rocking device with a similar mode of operation.

The driving of the vehicle need not necessarily be made by means of an electrically driven motor 60-. Instead of such a motor, each vehicle may be provided with a small diesel engine, whereby the speed of the vehicle may be controlled in a manner known per se by controlling fuel throttles or the like. Said control should in that case be connected to the ferro-magneticcore 66 in the coil 65 (FIG. 3). In the latter case there must be provided a mechanical coupling between the motor and the driving wheel of the vehicle and the operation of said coupling may be controlled by means of a third frequency channel for said vehicle, said frequency channel being of course supplied to the loop 11. The control panel (FIG. 2)

should in that case be provided with a third oscillator, and the output from said oscillator should be connected to the common amplifier 12 (FIG. 1) over a contact provided in the control panel, said contact being operated by a clutch lever. By such an embodiment there must also be provided a braking device for each vehicle. The braking device need not, however, be controlled by any separate channel but it can be controlled over the same-channel as the speed control. When the accelerator pedal is in its neutral position, the brake may be applied and may be arranged to be released as soon as any signal is supplied from the oscillator .13 to the loop 11. Also the coupling may be operated in a similar manner. The clutch should be released, when no signal is supplied from the oscillator 13 but as soon as such a signal is generated, the clutch should be operated and brought to active condition. In that case it should be possible to avoid a third channel for control of the clutch.

Also other modifications of the invention may be had. Although the described device is particularly suitable for motor car models, it is also possible to use it for other carriages. It may be, for example, possible to provide a water basin around which the loop 11 is mounted and let the carriages consist of small boats which are driven in the basin.

The variation of the amplitude which is taken out from the different oscillators 13 and 14 (FIG. 2) may be brought about in other ways than by means of potentiometers. It is, for example, possible to design the oscillators in that Way that by supplying varying operating voltages to said oscillators they will generate correspondingly varying output amplitudes. The oscillators may also be provided with feed-back circuits, which are operated in different ways in order to vary the output amplitude of the oscillators in a desired degree.

Also other modifications of the invention may be had.

What I claim is:

1. A trafiic game, comprising a number of remotely controlled carriages, a control panel corresponding to each carriage and each carriage having a driving source of its own, said control panel comprising means for control of the speed, forward and reverse direction of movement, stopping of the associated carriage and for the steering of said associated carriage and wherein an electrically conducting loop defines an area within which the carriages are remotely controlled, means supplying said loop with alternating voltages of different frequencies for each carriage and for each function which should be controlled in dependence of the setting of the control means of said control panels, each carriage being provided with a number of frequency selective, inductive, receiving devices, each of said receiving devices corresponding to at least one function.

2. A traflic game according to claim 1, wherein at least one of said receiving devices of each carriage is amplitude selective, and different functions of the carriage are controlled in dependence of variations of the amplitude of the alternating current supplied to said conducting loop and received by said receiving device.

.3. A traffic game according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the receiving means of each carriage, in dependence of the amplitude of the alternating current supplied to said loop by operation of the corresponding control member in one of said control panels, gradually actuates an associated device in the carriage for bringing about the desired function, the actuation of said corresponding device being made against the action of a restoring force.

4. A trafiic game according to claim 2, wherein a device for bringing about a change of direction of drive for each carriage is put into action when the amplitude of the alternating voltage supplied to said loop intended for the steering function is considerably in access of the amplitude required for merely bringing about said steering function.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,205,618 9/1965 I-Ieytow 46-244 3,339,307 9/ 1967 Floyd et a1. 46-244 FOREIGN PATENTS 994,832 6/1965 Great Britain.

ANTONIO F. GUIDA, Primary Examiner R. F. CUTTING, Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X.R.. 273l UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 345070072 Dated April 21, 1970 Inventor) L. Hammer-berg It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 1, line 18, insert a period after viz.

Column 1, line 45, change "iwth" to --with--.

Column 1, line 50, change "ilke" to ----like--.

Column 3, line 66, change "it" to --:Lts--.

Column 6 line 28, change "access" to --excess--.

SIGNED AND SEALER SEP 2 9 1970 I Anew Edwin! H. Fletcher, In I E m s 0mm Comissioner or Panama FORM PO-1050 (IO-69) USCOMM-DC GOB'IG-PBO fl U 5. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE llll 0-360-884 

